Plant Breeding and Seed Production

Potential and Real Alfalfa (MEDICAGO L.) Seed Yield on Increased Soil Acidity

V. D. Buhaiov, V. M. Horenskyi — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

This study assessed the impact of hydrothermal factors on and contributions of individual seed productivity components to the seed yields of alfalfa germplasm accessions of different eco-geographical origins grown on soil with increased acidity over two years of sward utilization. A significant influence of hydrothermal factors on seed productivity was observed: minor to moderate droughts during anthesis and harvest increased it, while precipitation, conversely, decreased. It was concluded that to reduce the time spent on structural analysis, it is sufficient to use traits that are most significantly affected: number of productive shoots, racemes per shoot, pods per raceme, and seeds per pod. Further research is needed on minimizing seed losses caused by genetic, biological, and mechanical factors.

Grain Quality Indicators in Winter Bread Wheat Breeding Lines

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

Abstract: Grain quality is a complex characteristic that depends on several traits, and the individual contribution of each trait varies depending on the specific response to environmental conditions. The effects of genotype and environment on quality characteristics of 1,200 wheat genotypes were assessed; the relationships between quality traits were also analyzed. Having summarized long-term data using year-standardized values, we identified sources of high test weight, high and low kernel vitreousness for the breeding of hard and soft cultivars; sources of high protein and gluten contents and high gluten quality, high rheological properties and baking scores. Among the cultivars, cvs. ‘Kharus’, ‘Astet’, ‘Vasylyna’, ‘Fermerka’, ‘Patriotka’, and ‘Maliovanka’ were distinguished by high dough resilience, flour strength and dough elasticity index, while cvs. ‘Malusha’ and a soft confectionery cultivar, ‘Mazurok’, were distinguished by low low values of these characteristics; the latter was also characterized by low kernel vitreousness. Cultivars ‘Pryvablyva’, ‘Pryvitna’, ‘Prynada’, ‘Haiok’, and ‘Pronia’ were distinguished by high test weight. High grain protein content and flour gluten content were intrinsic to cvs. ‘Pryvablyva’, ‘Pryvitna’, ‘Harmonika’, and ‘Mazurok’, with the maximum values in cv. ‘Prynada’. High loaf volume and overall baking score were recorded for cvs. ‘Kharus’, ‘Astet’, ‘Vasylyna’, ‘Statna’, ‘Fermerka’, ‘Dyvo’, ‘Harmonika’, ‘Prynada’, and ‘Mavka IR’. Relationships between grain quality traits were evaluated; it was shown that overall baking score was closely correlated with gluten deformation index, dough resilience, flour strength and dough elasticity index. Cluster and principal component analyses, which were conducted to summarize the data, divided the studied traits into four clusters with a Euclidean distance of < 40% and four principal components that acconted for > 70% of the total variability; one of them is associated with baking qualities, another – with rheological properties, and two more – with protein and gluten contents, test weight and kernel vitreousness. Lines combining high values of different characteristics for different areas of use were selected. The results of this study can be used as breeding criteria to improve the quality of bread wheat grain in the region.

AMMI and GGE Biplot Analysis of Genotype-Environment Interaction in Environmental Trials of Pea Cultivars

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

Results of AMMI and GGE biplot analysis summarizing data of environmental trials of pea cultivars are presented. The results of these methods were not identical and indicate the importance of each of these algorithms. Thus, the distribution of pea accessions by ranks (ASV) in the AMMI model placed cv. ‘Haiduk’ in the first position, but according to the results of the GGE biplot analysis, cv. ‘Oplot’ was the best ("ideal") genotype. Graphical visualization of results marking megaenvironments and cultivars that are the best in these environments is additional information to adjust breeding programs and to create adaptable pea cultivars for different growing zones. A separate advantage of GGE biplot is that it is able to assess the informativeness of test environments. In our study, not only the trial locations (Odesa State Experimental Station [Odeska Oblast], Ustymivka Experimental Station [Poltavska Oblast] and Yuriev Plant Production Institute [Kharkivska Oblast]) but also each year of trials at each location differed. Thus, AMMI and GGE biplot analysis, which process data of environmental trials of pea, do not exclude each other, but on the contrary, provide more detailed and complete information.

Agrobiological Evaluation of Sunflower Hybrids in Eastern Ukraine

D. V. Chuiko, V. V. Kyrychenko, V. V. Bilyk — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

Twenty-eight sunflower hybrids, which are suitable for dissemination in Ukraine and included in the State Register of Plant Varieties, were evaluated for agrobiological traits in the forest-steppe zone of Eastern Ukraine and the results are presented. The performance, biometric characteristics and yield components were determined in hybrids of different genetic origins. The field studies were conducted at the Educational, Scientific and Production center "Dokuchaievske Experimental Field" of the State Biotechnological University in 2023–2024. Such characteristics as the number of leaves, plant height, head diameter, thousand seed weight, test weight, and head productivity were determined. The climatic conditions of vegetation in 2023 and 2024 significantly varied, enabling us to assess the preliminary adaptability of the hybrids to stressors. There were significant correlations between major components of yield. The highest biological yield (up to 3.7 t/ha) was formed by Ukrainian hybrids ‘Blysk’, ‘Husliar’, ‘Ravelin’, ‘Kadet’, and ‘Aldazor’. Cluster analysis by economic characteristics allowed us to identify three groups of hybrids that differed in yield and adaptability. The data obtained indicate the feasibility of clusterization as a tool for comprehensive evaluation of sunflower hybrids for the conditions of Eastern Ukraine. The results can be used in production to optimally select high-yielding sunflower hybrids for the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine

Morphobiological Traits of New Sunflower Lines - Fertility Restorers

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

Distinctness traits in new sunflower lines- fertility restorers were described: morphological characteristics of the plant, stem, leaf, and head. The lines’ diversity was determined for performance traits and oil content in seeds. The following early-ripening lines - fertility restorers were distinguished by performance: mono-headed lines ‘Kh 0013V’ and ‘Kh 1807V’ (40.98 and 42.32 g, respectively) and multi-headed line ‘Kh 1809V’ (25.04 g). Line ‘LHV’ was distinguished by seed oil content (53.91%). The greatest thousand seed weight of 75.8 g was recorded for line ‘Kh 0013V’, which may be of interest for breeding for large fruits. We identified valuable sunflower lines - fertility restorers, ‘Kh 1807V’ and ‘Kh 1818V’, with vegetation periods of 90 and 96 days, respectively, and flowering periods of 19 and 15 days; the lines combine great performance (42.32 g and 25.99 g) with resistance to the pathogen of downy mildew. We also selected two early-ripening, branched lines, ‘Kh 1803V’ and ‘Kh 1809V’, with lengths of the "emergence-anthesis" period of 54 and 56 days, respectively; the lines showed plant performance similar to that of the tester lines (19.39 g and 25.04 g, respectively) and significantly were superior to the latter in terms of seed oil content (49.22% and 49.16%). According to the results of the examination by the National Center for Plant Genetic Resources of Ukraine, sunflower lines - fertility restorers ‘Kh 1807V, ‘Kh 1818V’ (mono-headed), ‘Kh 1803V’ and ‘Kh 1809V’ (multi-headed) were superior to tester line ‘Kh 720 V’ in terms of performance and other breeding traits. The lines were included in the Bank of Plant Genetic Resources of Ukraine.

Increasing the Yield of Sunflower Parent Components with the Help of Growth Regulators and Micro-Fertilizers

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

Low seed productivity of parentalal lines (sterility fixers and fertility restorers) hinders the rapid introduction into production of competitive simple sunflower hybrids. The purpose of this study was investigate the effects of combinations of growth regulators and microfertilizers of different origins on the growth, development, yield and sowing quality of new sunflower lines and to develop effective methods for their improvement. The study was conducted in the fields of the Yuriev Рlant Production Institute of NAAS in 2021-2024 were applied. The parental components of simple sunflower hybrids ‘Skh66A’, ‘Skh588A’, Kh1814V’, and ‘Kh2283V’ were studied; growth regulators AKM, Endophyte L1 and Antistress as well as microfertilizers Raycat Start, Microcat Oil Crops, Aminocat 30, Atlante, and Endobor. Pre-sowing treatment with AKM and Raycat Start was carried out simultaneously with seed dressing. Plants were sprayed with combinations of agents in the phases of 4 or 4 and 6 sunflower leaf pairs. It was found that, depending on combinations of agents and methods of their application, the leaf area in line ‘Skh66A’ increased on average by 1,500-3,600 m2/ha and the pre-harvest plant density – by 700-1,800 plants/ha; in line ‘Skh588A’, these parameters increased by 1,500-4,300 m2/ha and 1,5-2,6 plants/ha, respectively; in line ‘Kh1814V’ – by 2,000-4,100 m2/ha and 700-1,800 plants/ha, respectively; and in line ‘Kh2283A’ – by 400-1,700 m2/ha and 1,500-3,300 plants/ha, respectively. Pre-sowing treatment of seeds with AKM and Raycat Start increased the yield of the sunflower lines on average by 9-13%; pre-sowing treatment and subsequent spraying with combinations of agents in the phase of 4 leaf pairs – by 8-16%; and pre-sowing treatment with subsequent spraying in the phases of 4 and 6 leaf pairs – by 11-18%. Lines ‘Skh66А’ and ‘Kh1814V’ yielded the most when treated with AKM 0.2 L/t, Antistress 1.7 kg/ha, Endophyte L1 0.2 L/ha, and Endobor 0.48 kg/ha in two or three stages (0.84 and 0.72 t/ha, respectively). The yield of line ‘Skh588А’ reached the maximum after the application of AKM 0.2 L/t, Antistress 1.7 kg/ha, Endophyte L1 0.2 L/ha, and Endobor 0.48 kg/ha in three stages (1.26 t/ha); the yield of line ‘Kh2283V’ was maximal (1.19 t/ha) when Raycat Start 2.5 L/t, Microcat Oil Crops 0.5 L/ha, Atlante 0.5 L/ha, and Aminocat 30% 0.5 L/ha were used in three stages.